The dusty road to Ethiopia

By all accounts, the direct road between Nairobi and the Ethiopian border is one of the worst in Africa. Having heard too many nightmare stories of broken suspension and tyres ripped open by volcanic rocks, we took local advice and went the 150 kilometre longer north eastern route, which amazingly takes a day less as it is on sand rather than boulders. Strangely, very few other travellers seem to opt for, or even know about, this way. It definitely felt like we were off the beaten track with only nomadic, camel riding herdsmen for company. With very early starts, coffee at sunrise was an absolute necessity.